FBI

Core Values The strategic plan for accomplishing the FBI his mission must begin by identifying the core values, which need to be preserved and defended by the FBI in performing its statutory missions. Those values are rigorous obedience to the Constitution of the United States; respect for the dignity of all those we protects; compassion; fairness; and uncompromising personal and institutional integrity. These values do not exhaust the many goals, which we wish to achieve, but they capitalize them as well as can be done in a few words. Our values must be fully understood, practised, shared, vigorously defended and preserved. Observance of these core values is our guarantee of excellence and propriety in performing the FBI's national security and criminal investigative functions. Rigorous obedience to constitutional principles ensures that individually and institutionally we always remember that constitutional guarantees are more important than the outcome of any single interview, search for evidence, or investigation. Respect for the dignity of all whom we protect reminds us to wield law enforcement powers with restraint and to recognise the natural human tendency to be corrupted by power and to become callous in its exercise. Fairness and compassion ensure that we treat everyone with the highest regard for constitution, civil and human rights. Personal and institutional integrity reinforce each other and are owed to the Nation in exchange for the sacred trust and great authority conferred upon us. We who enforce the law must not merely obey it. We have an obligation to set a moral example, which those whom we protect can follow. Because of the FBI his success in accomplishing its mission is directly related to the support and cooperation of those whom we protect, these core values are the fibber which holds together the vitality of our institution:

What is the FBI? The FBI is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice. It has the authority and responsibility to investigate specific crimes assigned to it. The FBI also is authorized to provide other law enforcement agencies with cooperative services, such as fingerprint identification, laboratory examinations, and police training.

What is the mission of the FBI? The Mission of the FBI is to uphold the law through the investigation of violations of federal criminal law; to protect the United States from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities; to provide leadership and law enforcement assistance to federal, state, local, and international agencies; and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

When was the FBI founded? On July 26, 1908, then-Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte appointed an unnamed force of Special Agents to be the investigative force of the Department of Justice. The FBI evolved from this small group.

What is the FBI's policy on the use of informants? The courts have recognized that the government's use of informants is lawful and often essential to the effectiveness of properly authorized law enforcement investigations. However, use of informants to assist in the investigation of criminal activity may involve an element of deception, intrusion into the privacy of individuals, or cooperation with persons whose reliability and motivation may be open to question. Although it is legally permissible for the FBI to use informants in its investigations, special care is taken to carefully evaluate and closely supervise their use so the rights of individuals under investigation are not infringed. The FBI can only use informants consistent with specific guidelines issued by the Attorney General that control the use of informants.

Criminal Investigative Division The FBI's investigative mandate is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. This division coordinates investigations into organized crime, including drug matters, racketeering, and money laundering; investigations into violent crimes, including wanted fugitives, escaped federal prisoners (in some instances), unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, violent gangs, serial murders, kidnappings, bank robberies, violent crimes and property crimes of an interstate nature, crime on Indian reservations, crimes against U.S. citizens overseas, and theft of government property; investigations into white-collar crime, fraud against the government, corruption of public officials, health care fraud, election law violations, business and economic frauds and corruption crimes; and investigations into civil rights violations.

- Art Theft Program - Asset Forfeiture Program - Civil Rights Section - Crimes Against Children Program - Financial Crimes Section - Internet Fraud Complaint Center - Jewelry and Gem Program

Criminal Justice Information Services Division Headquartered in Clarksburg, West Virginia, the CJIS Division serves as the focal point and central repository for criminal justice information services in the FBI. This division is a customer-driven organization providing state-of-the-art identification and information services to local, state, federal, and international criminal justice communities. In support of this, CJIS administers an advisory process which shares management and policy making decisions with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies. The CJIS Division includes the Fingerprint Identification Program, National Crime Information Center Program, Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)--a computer-based system that can store, process, analyze, and retrieve millions of fingerprints in a relatively short period of time.

Finance Division The Finance Division is responsible for the overall coordination and administration of the FBI's budgetary and fiscal matters, financial planning, voucher and payroll matters, and property and procurement activities. The Assistant Director is the FBI's Chief Financial Officer and is Chairperson of the Contract Review Board.

Information Resources Division The principal responsibility of the IRD is to provide centralized management and planning for information resources within the FBI. Architectures are developed and maintained that specify how information is to be collected, managed, and used. The architectures delineate the information that is essential to the FBI mission, the automated and manual systems needed to manage this data, and the technical infrastructure needed to maintain these systems.

Inspection Division The Inspection Division is responsible for review of FBI investigative and administrative programs to ensure their economic value and effective compliance with objectives, governing laws, rules, regulations, and policy. These reviews are also to ensure that FBI personnel conduct the organization's activities in a proper and professional manner. The Division conducts organizational streamlining studies, program evaluations, and process-reengineering and improvements projects.